What is it carved stone

[jtw1313]

It’s been awhile.........any help on where it’s from or what it is is appreciated

 

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[Red-Coat]

I don't know what it is (or perhaps what it's trying to be) but it looks like it might be soapstone and I believe I can see what appear to be modern tooling marks in several places. Like here, for example (centre of picture):



The eyes suggest something Mesoamerican/South American, but the headgear does not... except for perhaps some Andean cultures. My guess (only a guess) is that it's a relatively modern tourist market item sold as a pseudo-relic and, if so, perhaps from Mexico.

 

[jtw1313]

Hey redcoat how you been? Yes I believe soapstone as well.....very soft.....are you talking the lines or the three white scrape marks if you are talking about those I would disagree on tooling marks after polished. Rather maybe scratched against something.....

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Need back ground info.

 

[jtw1313]

I Found this in a house clean out

 

[Red-Coat]

Hey redcoat how you been? Yes I believe soapstone as well.....very soft.....are you talking the lines or the three white scrape marks if you are talking about those I would disagree on tooling marks after polished. Rather maybe scratched against something.....

I'm good thanks, but have had enough of being 'locked down'.

I'm talking the groups of linear scratches, which I believe I can see in these two areas too (one of them is in an indented area of the carving which wouldn't readily get exposed to surface wear):



I could be wrong but those look like modern rotary tool marks to me. It's one of the traits that gives away modern-made items when the carver doesn't subsequently polish them all out because he's carved rather deeply or didn't inspect thoroughly enough to spot them all.

 

[DCMatt]

Voodoo Gris-Gris.

Or Doctor John...



Same thing, really...

 

[jtw1313]

Thank you redcoat

Glad to hear your ok......yes this lockdown crap sucks they just started lifting a few things here in Ohio......here are some closer better pics not sure if I got the same area

 

[GoldieLocks]

The eyes were pushed in when it was still wet. It is an artificial clay-like material. I am an artist, I recognize how the eyes were made. I suspect it is a tourist piece. Voo doo? Was it found in the deep south of the US?

 

[Red-Coat]

I think this is very obviously stone, not clay or other ceramic:



It would be very easy on soapstone to create indented eyes like that with a lip around then and, for me, the eyes still have a Mesoamerican/South American/pre-Columbian feel to them. This is an authentic Olmec mask carving for example (this one carved from serpentine):



@jtw1313, your second set of pics are, I think, not showing the same areas that I enlarged. Below are some modern tooling marks from a fake fantasy piece which was also trying to be something in that territory (and failing miserably, including some ridiculous headgear... although not like the hat on yours). The marks are even less polished out than on yours, but that's still what I believed I could see.

 

[jtw1313]

I see thank you redcoat